Until a few months ago, the Federal Reserve appeared close to achieving something that many doubted was possible. The economy looked on the cusp of a “soft landing,” a situation where inflation was headed back to the central bank’s 2 percent target without a recession. That put the central bank on track to steadily lower … Read more
Getting vaccinated against shingles can reduce the risk of developing dementia, a large new study finds. The results provide some of the strongest evidence yet that some viral infections can have effects on brain function years later and that preventing them can help stave off cognitive decline. The study, published on Wednesday in the journal … Read more
The U.S. State Department is seeking to quell a diplomatic tempest roiling Europe this week after American embassies in several countries sent letters to foreign contractors instructing them to certify their compliance with President Trump’s policies aimed at unraveling diversity programs. The letters, directed at companies in France, Spain, Denmark, Belgium and elsewhere that have … Read more
For decades, Larry Ellison reveled in being the Silicon Valley executive who really knew how to have a good time. He spent as much as $200 million building a Japanese-inspired imperial villa near Palo Alto, Calif., bought the sixth-largest Hawaiian island and dated and married and divorced with never-ending zeal. Few paid much attention to … Read more
As part of its marketing campaign for the Nintendo Switch 2, company executives on Wednesday announced new details about its next video game console, whose initial lineup will include fresh entries in popular franchises like Mario Kart. The Switch 2 will be released on June 5. The new console will include a microphone to chat … Read more
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. When I set out to write an article about the New York-based, Instagram-famous nail artist Mei Kawajiri, I had never gotten a professional manicure before. Or, really, any manicure at all. My mom — a … Read more
Tariffs in the Rose Garden Global markets are mostly lower ahead of President Trump’s big tariffs rollout today, but it’s not the tumult that has rocked stocks in recent weeks. S&P 500 futures are holding steady, in the red, as economists warn that Trump’s protectionist policies could set off a global trade war that slams … Read more
Chuck Todd is sleeping in. Kind of. For nearly a decade, Sunday mornings meant waking up at 3:30 and putting on a suit and tie while preparing for his work as moderator of “Meet the Press,” where Mr. Todd would interview presidents, senators and the occasional movie star on America’s longest-running TV show. No longer. … Read more
President Trump is set to unveil his most expansive tariffs to date on Wednesday afternoon, when he will detail potentially punishing levies on countries around the globe, including America’s largest trading partners. Mr. Trump has promised for months to impose what he calls “reciprocal” tariffs, which the president says will correct years of “unfair” trade … Read more
On a recent visit to Shanghai, I looked up through the canopy of trees in the former French Concession district, and realized the sky was not the customary gray but a bright blue. At a busy intersection near Wukang Mansion, a century-old landmark reminiscent of New York City’s Flatiron Building, the scene was oddly quiet, … Read more